Alan MacLeod

Alan MacLeod is a member of the Glasgow University Media Group. He is author of "Bad News From Venezuela: 20 Years of Fake News and Misreporting." His latest book, Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent, was published by Routledge in May 2019. Follow him on Twitter: @AlanRMacLeod
Articles by this author
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Views Sunday, January 17, 2021 Trump’s Social Media Ban May Be Justified, But That Doesn’t Mean Power of Big Tech Isn’t Dangerous In the wake of the dramatic storming of the Capitol last week, a host of big media companies, including Facebook , Reddit , Pinterest , Twitch , YouTube , Snapchat , Instagram and TikTok , have all taken measures against Donald Trump. Making the most headlines, however, was the decision of the... Read more |
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Views Saturday, January 09, 2021 Billionaire-Owned Media Look Out for Neediest by Demanding They Get No More Money A lot of extremely rich people seem to be against the idea of giving money to the rest of us. In recent weeks, as the US continues to flounder amidst a surging Covid-19 epidemic, a wide range of political figures, from Bernie Sanders to Donald Trump, have come out in support of a one-time $2,000... Read more |
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Views Saturday, December 26, 2020 ‘Freedom Is Blossoming’: After Dismembering a Journalist, Saudi Arabia Goes on a PR Spree "Freedom is blossoming." That is how, without a shred of irony, CNN International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson describes Saudi Arabia in his recent article ( CNN , 12/5/20 ). Visiting the kingdom, he informs us, it has "changed beyond recognition" since his last stay. All around him, there was "... Read more |
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Views Friday, October 23, 2020 Media Outlets Owned by Billionaires Very Quick to Tell Readers Taxing the Rich Is Bad Idea The coronavirus pandemic has greatly increased wealth inequality in the United States, a key issue in the upcoming presidential election. Polls are currently looking good for the Democrats, many of whom have been murmuring about—or even demanding—a new wealth tax. Recent surveys show the idea is... Read more |
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Views Saturday, September 26, 2020 Julian Assange: Press Shows Little Interest in Media ‘Trial of Century’ Labeled the media “trial of the century,” WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s extradition hearing is currently taking place in London—although you might not have heard if you’re relying solely on corporate media for news. If extradited, Assange faces 175 years in a Colorado supermax prison , often... Read more |
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Views Sunday, August 02, 2020 Media's "Cancel Culture" Debate Obscures Direct Threats to First Amendment A short and rather vaguely worded open letter published in Harper's Magazine ( 7/7/20 ) earlier this month caused an unlikely media storm that continues to rumble on. Glossing over right-wing threats to the First Amendment, the letter, signed by 150 writers, journalists and other public figures,... Read more |
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Views Wednesday, July 22, 2020 How NOT to Resist Trump: Kayleigh McEnany’s Anti-Science Comments Media, particularly those who have made a habit of rhetorically opposing Donald Trump for the past four years, were awash last week with White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany’s controversial statements on reopening public schools in the middle of a pandemic. For example: “McEnany on School... Read more |
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Views Monday, June 29, 2020 Bombing People Is Not Feminist, No Matter How You Spin It Have you heard the good news, ladies? You too can bomb the Middle East! Some corporate media have recently been taken with the “inspirational” story of Emily Thompson, the first woman to pilot the super-costly F-35 jet in combat. At an unspecified time earlier this month, Thompson took off from her... Read more |
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Views Sunday, June 07, 2020 Media Downplay Global South Leadership on Covid-19 Amid the Trump administration’s calamitous response to the Covid-19 pandemic, media have been looking to other countries for inspiration in responsible leadership during a period of crisis. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden has been one popular pick, having capably managed to limit the... Read more |
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Views Wednesday, April 29, 2020 Both Sides-ing Bleach Injection: Media in the Era of an Incompetent President You probably saw Donald Trump’s ridiculous, false and deadly claim last week: that ingesting chemical cleaners could cure humans of the coronavirus. At a White House press briefing on Thursday ( 4/23/20 ), the president said: I see disinfectant, where it knocks it [coronavirus] out in a minute—one... Read more |